White Patches on Tonsils

We often hear people complaining about throat pain, particularly when eating food. Persistent dull pain in the throat is an indication of something wrong with the tonsils or other related structures in the neck. When the throat hurts persistently, it cannot be neglected and many times, close examination of the throat reveals the presence of white patches on tonsils.

Causes

The presence of white spots or patches on tonsils is an indication of accumulation of pus on tonsils. However, at times, it can also mean the presence of tonsil stones. Why pus develops on the tonsils and causes throat pain has to be first evaluated for chalking out a proper effective treatment plan. Following are the causes of white patches and spots on tonsils:

Tonsil Stones: In this condition, the crevices or the nooks of the tonsils show formation of white hardened deposits of debris that is made up of mucus, bacteria, dead cells and food particles. These glandular tissues (tonsils) do an excellent job of preventing bacteria and virus from entering the lungs. Tonsils contain infection fighting cells and so harmful microbes that stick to these tissues are eventually destroyed. However, over time, this trapped junk on the tonsils may solidify and get infected, leading to tonsil stones.

Tonsillitis: Inflammation of the tonsils (tonsillitis) is typically marked by raised body temperature, that is, fever and difficulty in swallowing food. Inflamed tonsils are a cause of great discomfort as swallowing food becomes a painful activity. Careful examination of tonsils in this condition has revealed the occurrence of white spots on tonsils, which is nothing but the formation of pus. The presence of pus on tonsils is an indication of viral or bacterial infection. This condition can lead to other symptoms like stiff neck, fever and headache as well.

Sore Throat: Sore throat, also referred to as strep throat refers to the bacterial infection of the throat and this can lead to the development of white spots on tonsils. This condition can cause severe throat pain, especially when swallowing food. This condition triggers uneasiness and an unusual scratchy feeling in the throat. In addition to enlarged tonsils, the person may also have swollen lymph nodes and a fever over 101 degree Fahrenheit.

Oral Thrush: Oral thrush, which is nothing but a fungal infection of the mouth can also be the culprit behind the appearance of white spots on tongue. The fungus that invades the lining of the mouth and causes this infection, is often referred to as yeast or Candida albicans. These microorganisms are always present in the mouth and the intestine and cause no harm until their population crosses the normal limit. Oral thrush caused by overgrowth of yeast is characterized by formation of white lesions that are seen on the inner cheeks and tongue but in most cases these cream-colored deposits are also noticed on the tonsils and the roof of the mouth. Although in this case the tonsils might not appear swollen nor cause difficult swallowing, the patient is unable to enjoy the natural taste of food. People put on chemotherapy drugs or those with impaired immune system due to poor nutrition are likely to suffer from oral thrush. Medical problems such as diabetes and HIV/AIDS also increases the risk of oral thrush.

Treatment

Treatment for white spots and patches on tonsils depends upon the condition that has brought about this unwanted change in the throat. If on examination of the throat tonsillitis is seen and is caused due to bacterial infection, taking antibiotics is the mainstay of the treatment. Gargling with warm salt water as well as staying away from foods and beverages that cause irritation to the throat, is one of the best ways to minimize discomfort associated with tonsillitis. The doctor may recommend a surgery that involves taking out the tonsils, when the child suffers from frequent episodes of tonsillitis, which is known as tonsillectomy.

When it comes to treating strep throat patients, taking antibiotics in the recommended dosage, is all that is needed to tackle this throat condition successfully. To reduce throat pain, use of painkillers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen is also recommended. One has to avoid eating spicy foods, as they may aggravate the throat pain. Smokers have to temporarily stay away from cigarettes as the habit of smoking can worsen the infection, thereby prolonging the recovery time. For oral thrush, taking homemade yogurt that does not contain sugar and antifungal medicines are some of the treatment options to cure this infection. On the other hand, treatment for tonsil stones is not necessary if they are not causing any discomfort. Simple home remedies like gargling with salt water are useful to alleviate the symptoms. However, for large stones, surgically removing them is the only option.

Complications

As throat problems such as tonsillitis and strep throat cause discomfort when ingesting food, one simply cannot afford to ignore treatment. In case treatment is delayed, the problem may aggravate and spread to other parts of the body. To be precise, the inflamed tonsils may not allow the person to breathe properly. Unfortunately, complications of ignoring treatment to white patches on tonsils are not limited to breathing problems. Untreated strep throat can also make the patient highly susceptible to infections of the ear and the sinus. On rare occasions, it can cause kidney problems such as glomerulonephritis.

Keep in mind that although the aforementioned throat infections cause fever, it is not necessarily the case always. White patches on tonsils and no fever can also indicate only inflammation of tonsils. Generally the patient has to undergo a strep throat test, in which throat swab is examined to check for bacterial infections. So, fever is not the main symptom of these throat problems and therefore diagnosis should be made with the help of a throat swab and after an examination of the throat and other symptoms.